Valdis Dombrovskis
Encyclopedia
Valdis Dombrovskis is the Prime Minister of Latvia
. He previously served as Latvia's Minister of Finance and as a Member of the European Parliament
for the New Era Party
.
to a family with Polish
roots, Dombrovskis graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at the University of Latvia
. He earned a Bachelor's degree in economics for engineers from Riga Technical University
in 1995 and a Master's degree in physics from the University of Latvia in 1996. He has worked as a laboratory assistant at the Institute of Physics of Mainz University, Germany from 1995 to 1996, as an assistant at the Institute of Solid-State Physics of the University of Latvia in 1997, and as a research assistant at the A. James Clark School of Engineering
at the University of Maryland, College Park
in 1998.
since 2002. He was Minister of Finance of Latvia from 2002 to 2004 and a Member of the Latvian Parliament during its 8th parliamentary term (2002–2004). Then he was Observer at the Council of the European Union
(2003–2004).
As Member of the European Parliament
, Dombrovskis was a member of three European Parliament Committees: Committee on Budgets, Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
, Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly
. He is also a Subtitute at Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, Committee on Budgetary Control and delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan
, EU-Kyrgyzstan
and EU-Uzbekistan
Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, and for relations with Tajikistan
, Turkmenistan and Mongolia
.
Dombrovskis was also one of six Members of the European Parliament participating in the European Union's observer mission in Togo
for the October 2007 Togolese parliamentary election
.
On 26 February 2009, following the resignation of Ivars Godmanis
, President Valdis Zatlers
nominated Dombrovskis to succeed Godmanis as Prime Minister of Latvia. It was believed that his government would consist of three of the four previously governing parties (all but Godmanis' LPP/LC
), his own New Era Party and a smaller right-wing party (the Civic Union
); the government was approved on 12 March 2009.
Prime Minister of Latvia
The Prime Minister of Latvia is the most powerful member of the Government of the Republic of Latvia, and presides over the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers...
. He previously served as Latvia's Minister of Finance and as a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the New Era Party
New Era Party
The New Era Party , abbreviated to JL, was a centre-right political party in Latvia. Founded in 2002, the party merged with Civic Union and Society for Other Politics to form Unity in 2011....
.
Education and science career
Born in RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
to a family with Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
roots, Dombrovskis graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at the University of Latvia
University of Latvia
University of Latvia is a university located in Riga, Latvia. Being established in 1919, University of Latvia is the biggest university in the Baltic states.-History:...
. He earned a Bachelor's degree in economics for engineers from Riga Technical University
Riga Technical University
Riga Technical University is located in Riga, Latvia.- Riga Polytechnical Institute, 1862-1918 :...
in 1995 and a Master's degree in physics from the University of Latvia in 1996. He has worked as a laboratory assistant at the Institute of Physics of Mainz University, Germany from 1995 to 1996, as an assistant at the Institute of Solid-State Physics of the University of Latvia in 1997, and as a research assistant at the A. James Clark School of Engineering
A. James Clark School of Engineering
The A. James Clark School of Engineering is the engineering college of the University of Maryland, College Park. The Clark School of Engineering is nationally ranked and consistently considered to be among the Top 20 engineering programs in the United States. The school consists of fourteen...
at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1998.
Political activity
Dombrovskis has been a Member of the Board of the New Era PartyNew Era Party
The New Era Party , abbreviated to JL, was a centre-right political party in Latvia. Founded in 2002, the party merged with Civic Union and Society for Other Politics to form Unity in 2011....
since 2002. He was Minister of Finance of Latvia from 2002 to 2004 and a Member of the Latvian Parliament during its 8th parliamentary term (2002–2004). Then he was Observer at the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
(2003–2004).
As Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
, Dombrovskis was a member of three European Parliament Committees: Committee on Budgets, Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
The ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created to bring together the elected representatives of the European Union and the elected representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states that have signed the Cotonou Agreement.Since the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union...
, Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly
Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly
The Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly is a trans-national body of 150 Parliamentarians from Europe and Latin America. It was established in 2006 to bolster EU-Latin American relations...
. He is also a Subtitute at Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, Committee on Budgetary Control and delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, EU-Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
and EU-Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, and for relations with Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, Turkmenistan and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
.
Dombrovskis was also one of six Members of the European Parliament participating in the European Union's observer mission in Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
for the October 2007 Togolese parliamentary election
Togolese parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in Togo on October 14, 2007 for the 81 seats in the National Assembly. There were over 2,000 candidates, with 32 parties and 41 lists of independent candidates competing. The ruling Rally of the Togolese People was victorious, winning a majority of 50 seats...
.
On 26 February 2009, following the resignation of Ivars Godmanis
Ivars Godmanis
Ivars Godmanis is a Latvian politician and currently 1 of the 8 Latvian MEPs in the European parliament. He was the first Prime Minister of Latvia after the country became independent from the Soviet Union, and he became a Prime Minister for the second time in December 2007.Godmanis served as...
, President Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and former physician who served as the seventh president of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. He won the Latvian presidential election of 31 May 2007...
nominated Dombrovskis to succeed Godmanis as Prime Minister of Latvia. It was believed that his government would consist of three of the four previously governing parties (all but Godmanis' LPP/LC
Latvian Way
Latvian Way was a centre-right liberal party in Latvia. It merged with Latvia's First Party to form the Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way in 2007.It described itself as "a liberal party defending people's freedom to shape their own lives"...
), his own New Era Party and a smaller right-wing party (the Civic Union
Civic Union (Latvia)
The Civic Union was a Latvian political party. It was founded in 2008 and most of its members came from the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK and New Era Party. It has been described as centre-right or right-wing....
); the government was approved on 12 March 2009.
See also
- First Dombrovskis cabinetFirst Dombrovskis cabinetThe first Dombrovskis cabinet was the government of Latvia from 12 March 2009 to 3 November 2010. It was the first government to be led by Valdis Dombrovskis, who has been Prime Minister since 2009. It took office on 12 March 2009, after the resignation of Ivars Godmanis, succeeding the second...
- Second Dombrovskis cabinetSecond Dombrovskis cabinetThe second Dombrovskis cabinet was the government of Latvia from 3 November 2010 to 25 October 2011. It was the second government to be led by Valdis Dombrovskis, who has been Prime Minister since 2009. It took office on 3 November 2010, after the October 2010 election, succeeding the first...
- Third Dombrovskis cabinetThird Dombrovskis cabinetThe third Dombrovskis cabinet is the current government of Latvia. It is the third government to be led by Valdis Dombrovskis, who has been Prime Minister since 2009. It took office on 25 October 2011, after the September 2011 election, succeeding the second Dombrovskis cabinet, which had lasted...